Retain Deputies On Tri-rail Trains

September 13, 1991

The Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority should ignore staff recommendations that a private security firm take over the job of patrolling its West Palm Beach-to-Miami commuter trains.

Sheriff`s deputies from Broward and Palm Beach counties now handle Tri-Rail security. Under the proposed change, The Wackenhut Corp. would take over. More than pennies would be saved -- $110,336 to be exact -- but the switch still would be foolish.

The deputies have done a good job. They instill confidence in riders, some 1,000 of whom have signed petitions asking that the deputies be retained. They discourage rowdies and vandalism. The interiors of the trains have not been trashed.

There have been arrests at Tri-Rail stations and on the trains. None of them have involved such serious crimes as armed robbery or assault. Many arrests have taken place when when people have obstructed the train or placed objects on the tracks.

Wackenhut employees would carry guns but have no arrest powers. That seems a peculiar combination. It would give the private firm`s personnel the wherewithal to shoot troublemakers but not arrest them. If hard-to-handle passengers did create problems, the Wackenhut worker would just be a middleman trying to control the situation while looking for a law enforcement officer with the authority to make arrests.

That there have been no life-threatening situations on Tri-Rail is a tribute to the Broward and Palm Beach County deputies who patrol the trains, not a sign that violent crime could never become a problem.

When the Tri-Rail security contract was put out for bids, Wackenhut said it could supply 12 officers, two supervisors, a project manager and vehicles and radios for $685,236. The two sheriff`s departments would provide 12 deputies, two sergeants and money for vehicles, equipment and repairs for $795,572.

Money would be saved by a switch to private security. But not enough to justify changing a system that is working efficiently.